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Progressives Can Turn Negative Video Poker Positive

10 June 2012

Progressive jackpot Video Poker offers opportunities to play an otherwise negative expectation game as a positive expectation game. As the jackpot grows, so does the overall return for the game. For every approximately 1600 credits the jackpot rises, the return rises just under one percent.

Specifics for a few of the more basic games are as follows. The credits for a royal are based on 5 coins played.

Royal Pays à

4,000

5,600

7,200

Game

Payback with Expert Play

Jacks or Better 8/5

97.30%

98.15%

99.10%

Bonus Poker 7/5

98.01%

98.86%

99.80%

Double Bonus 9/6

97.81%

98.67%

99.61%

Double-Double Bonus 9/6

98.98%

99.86%

100.78%

By keeping a watchful eye on the progressive meters, you may find games that return very close to 100 percent and in rarer cases games that return more than 100 percent. Of course, as the jackpot for hitting a royal climbs, the strategy for maximizing return changes. Actually it doesn't change all that much and in reality becomes somewhat simpler as it starts favoring pieces of a royal over other types of hands.

To make sure you are playing as close as possible to proper strategy, having a software program to generate the strategy is very helpful. Even if you do not have the program with you, you can print the appropriate strategy before you leave for the casino if you know what progressive games are available and at what level you want to start playing them. You could also generate several strategies for the games you play at various jackpot levels and use the closest one when you actually play.

However, whenever checking out a progressive Video Poker game -- especially in non-major gambling venues such as Indian casinos or cruise ships -- be careful to factor in the number of credits required to win the jackpot. Not all games require five credits, many require 10 credits played to collect the jackpot for a royal flush. This dramatically reduces the effect of an increased jackpot. For example, a 25¢ progressive 6/5 Jacks or Better game with a $3,375 jackpot has a return of 100.73 percent with five credits required, but only a 96.53 percent return if 10 credits are required.

Jerry Stickman

Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines. He authored the video poker section of Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker! You can contact Jerry "Stickman" at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com.

Jerry Stickman Websites:

www.goldentouchcraps.com
www.goldentouchblackjack.com
Jerry Stickman
Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines. He authored the video poker section of Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker! You can contact Jerry "Stickman" at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com.

Jerry Stickman Websites:

www.goldentouchcraps.com
www.goldentouchblackjack.com